Ford unveils new Endeavour at Rs 18 lakh

Car maker Ford on Wednesday launched an advanced version of its sports utility vehicle Endeavour, priced at the higher end between Rs 15.99 lakh to 17.99 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi.

The company also said it will increase vehicle production in India by over 30 per cent from this month to meet increased demand in the upcoming festival season.

The new Endeavour comes with both automatic and manual transmission variants and will be launched across the country in a phased manner.

"The Endeavour has established itself as an indisputable leader in the premium SUV segment. With its contemporary new design, the dominant toughness of Ford Endeavour has never been more appealing and we believe that it will set new benchmarks in its segment," Ford India president and managing director Michael Bonham told reporters.

The new Endeavour is available as a 3-litre 4x4 automatic transmission variant and a 2.5-litre 4x2 manual transmission variant. Bookings for the new SUV have started from today in the north and the west regions with launches scheduled in the south and east markets in the next few weeks.

Ford to up India output by over 30 per cent ahead of festive season

"We have been producing about 130 vehicles a day but this will be increased to 174 vehicles a day this month," Ford India president and MD Michael Boneham told reporters.

He said demand has increased for its entry level sedan Ikon, which was given a facelift last November, mid-sized Sedan Fiesta and also for SUV Endeavour.

Boneham, however, said the company expects its overall vehicles sales in 2009 to remain more or less similar that in the last year at around 31,000 units.

"While things are improving, we also need to be a bit cautious... while the Indian government has done a good job to boost the auto sector, issue like extra Rs 15,000 duty on big cars need to be addressed," he said.

Ford India last year announced a $500 million investment plan spanning over three years to expand its manufacturing facility, setting up of a new diesel engine plant and also on new product development, including a small car for the Indian car market.